Become a Paralegal in Wisconsin

Wisconsin isn’t just about cheese! Ten Wisconsin companies made the Fortune 500 list in 2013; Johnson Controls, Kohl’s, Rockwell Automation and Harley-Davidson were all on the list. Six of these companies are located in Milwaukee, while insurance companies American Family Insurance Group and Northwestern Mutual are based in Madison and Milwaukee, respectively. The insurance industry is just one of the areas in which paralegals are in demand.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that 3,420 paralegal and legal assistants were employed in Wisconsin in 2012, earning an average hourly wage was $21.08 and an annual mean wage of $43,850. Top earners could make as much as $63,000 a year.

Wisconsin Paralegal Certification

There is no mandatory licensing of paralegals in Wisconsin. In 2008, the Wisconsin Supreme Court denied the State Bar’s paralegal petition designed to establish licensing and regulation for paralegals. There is an ongoing effort to revise and re-submit this petition.

Where to Earn Your Paralegal Certificate or Degree in Wisconsin

Paralegal Certificates

Madison Area Technical College

Madison Area Technical College‘s paralegal post-baccalaureate certificate is for students who already have a bachelor’s degree and are looking to enter the paralegal profession, or increase their knowledge and skills so that they can compete for better jobs. This two-semester program includes course work in substantive and procedural law, legal research and writing and computer technology as it relates to the legal environment, and is offered at both the Truax Campus and the West Madison Campus.

Estimated Program Cost: $3,666 for state residents; $5,499 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per credit tuition)

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree or higher

ABA Approved: Yes

Format: On campus

Sample required courses:

Legal Research

Family Law

Administrative Law

Civil Litigation 1 & 2

Career Building Techniques – Paralegal

Computer Applications – Legal

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College

Northeast Wisconsin Technical College (NWTC) serves approximately 42,000 students each year. This two-year public institution offers affordable educational programs, as well as advanced technology and state-of-the-art facilities. NWTC’s paralegal post-baccalaureate certificate program prepares graduates to communicate effectively both orally and in writing, work collaboratively while showing individual initiative, use critical thinking skills, organize legal information and perform effective and efficient legal research using both traditional and computerized techniques.

Estimated Program Cost: $2,841 for Wisconsin residents & Minnesota residents who are full-time students; $4,124 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)

Prerequisites: Bachelor’s degree or higher

ABA Approved: Yes

Format: On campus

Sample required courses:

Civil Litigation 1 & 2

Indian Law

Legal Aspects/Business Org

Legal Research

Legal Writing

Paralegal Criminal Procedure

Paralegal Associate Degrees

Chippewa Valley Technical College

Located in Eau Claire, Chippewa Valley Technical College is part of Wisconsin’s Technical College System. Its paralegal associate degree program is taught by a faculty of experienced attorneys and paralegals. Students take courses in both liberal arts and numerous aspect of law, with an emphasis on understanding and reasoning rather than learning by rote. They also take part in an internship or field study to give them hands-on experience.

Estimated Program Cost: $8,065 for Wisconsin and Minnesota residents; $12,098 for out-of-state students (based on 2013-2014 per-credit tuition)

Prerequisites: High school diploma, GED, High School Equivalency Diploma (HSED) or completion of a home school program; entrance assessment such as COMPASS or ACT

ABA Approved: Yes

Format: On campus

Lakeshore Technical College

Lakeshore Technical College (LTC) offers a relatively affordable paralegal Associate of Applied Science at both its main campus in Cleveland and at Moraine Park Technical College (MPTC) via live interactive television. This intensive, hands-on course of study requires that students be available in the afternoons and evenings Monday through Friday. Student learn to analyze legal procedural problems, draft legal documents, conduct legal research, behave professionally and act ethically.

Estimated Program Cost: $8712 for state residents; $13,068 for out-of-state students (based 2013 per-credit tuition)

Prerequisties: High school diploma; placement exam

ABA Approved: Yes

Format: On campus

Sample required courses:

Business Law

Civil Litigation 1 & 2

Legal Aspects of Business Organizations

Personal Branding – Paralegal

Introduction to Paralegalism & Legal Ethics

Paralegal Bachelor’s Degrees

Globe University

One of the advantages to Glove University is that it offers paralegal education in several areas of Wisconsin. The courses in its Bachelor of Science paralegal degree can be taken at the school’s Eau Claire, Madison East, West Madison, Wausau and Green Bay campuses, as well as online. This program covers interviewing and investigation skills, legal research and litigation, and includes electives in topics such as organizational behavior and fraud examination, all to prepare graduates for success in the workforce. Globe offers academic and financial planning sessions, as well as lifelong job search assistance.

Estimated Program Cost: 1-11 credits: $460/credit; 12-16 credits: $390/credit; tuition is capped at 16 credits per quarter. Qualified students who take more than 16 credits per quarter will not be charged for these additional credits. (based on 2013 tuition rates)

Requirements: High school diploma or GED; minimum sores on ACT, SAT or Accuplacer OR a bachelor’s degree from an approved institution

ABA Approved: No

Format: On campus, online or hybrid

Herzing University in Madison

Herzing University offers a nine-semester Bachelor of Science in legal studies program at its Madison campus. This course of study prepares graduates to take the Certified Paralegal examination offered by the National Association of Legal Assistants (NALA). Students learn how to assist attorneys by helping to preparing legal arguments, drafting pleadings and motions, preparing case reports and investigating the facts of cases.

Western Technical College in La Crosse

Professional Organizations

The Madison Area Paralegal Association (MAPA) is a group of paralegals, legal professionals and students who live and work in Madison and surrounding areas. It offers Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits through its Lunch & Learn programs, as well as scholarship programs, mock interview programs, student receptions and a mentoring program for new graduates.

The Paralegal Association of Wisconsin (PAW) promotes the paralegal profession, encourages training, conducts educational seminars, provides forums for discussions, publishes information related to paralegals and the legal system and facilitates networking opportunities. PAW has been working with the State Bar of Wisconsin, paralegal educators, government liaisons and others to develop a regulatory plan for mandatory licensing of paralegals in Wisconsin.

The State Bar of Wisconsin was created by the Wisconsin Supreme Court, and membership in it is mandatory for all attorneys licensed in the state. It serves members through continuing education, attorney referrals and public education.